Craig Wright Faces Legal Setback in Bitcoin Inventor Dispute

By: Isha Das

The High Court of Justice in London has granted partial injunctions against Craig Wright, following his claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, in a landmark trial brought by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA). The court issued an anti-suit injunction preventing Dr. Wright from pursuing further legal proceedings based on these claims, reflecting the judiciary's efforts to maintain integrity and prevent misuse of the legal system.

COPA's request for cost reimbursement in the COPA and BTC Core claims was approved, with Dr. Wright ordered to cover these expenses on an indemnity basis. Due to Wright's current unavailability in the UK, the court consented to COPA serving the final order via email. Furthermore, COPA received permission to use disclosed documents in other relevant proceedings, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the legal restrictions imposed on Wright.

Justice Mellor rejected COPA's broader injunction requests that would have prevented Wright from publicly asserting his claim to be Satoshi or required him to delete past statements. These requested restrictions were deemed excessive in limiting Wright's freedom of expression. However, Wright was ordered to publish notices about the judgment on his website, Twitter feed, and Slack channels for three months to ensure the court's findings are widely disseminated.

The case has been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service for potential perjury charges against Wright, following allegations of 'wholesale perjury and forgery of documents' during the trial. While the court did not grant the full scope of COPA's injunctions, the ruling significantly hampers Wright's ability to pursue legal claims based on his discredited assertion of being Bitcoin's creator, marking a major setback for his position.